Help with Scince Fair project

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criak740
Posts: 3
Joined: Tue Sep 04, 2007 6:04 am

Help with Scince Fair project

Post by criak740 »

I am doing a project on if the percent of iron in a metal affects the corrosion rate. I was wondering what method I should use to mesure the corrosion rate? I was going to weigh the metal, but Im not sure if the difference in weight loss will be enough to measure.
Thanks,
Cria
staryl13
Former Expert
Posts: 404
Joined: Tue Sep 18, 2007 3:27 pm
Occupation: Research Assistant
Project Question: Neuroregeneration
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Post by staryl13 »

Hi Cria,
Measuring the weight before and after is a common method, but it would require an extremely accurate scale. I'm not sure what your science background is, but if you want to do some more complex calculations, you can check out this website:
http://www.ecochemie.nl/download/content/APPL017.pdf
Good luck!
"There is a single light of science, and to brighten it anywhere is to brighten it everywhere." -Isaac Asimov
criak740
Posts: 3
Joined: Tue Sep 04, 2007 6:04 am

helpp

Post by criak740 »

I was wondering how precise the scale has to be to measure the corrosion rate. I have a scale that measures up to tenths of a gram, will that be enough?
Thanks!
Cria K
Craig_Bridge
Former Expert
Posts: 1297
Joined: Mon Oct 16, 2006 11:47 am

Post by Craig_Bridge »

Everything is relative....
If you start with a ton of iron and are trying to detect 1000 parts per million, then you need a scale accurate to 2 pounds.

If you start with 2 pounds of iron then you need a scale accurate to .002 pounds.

If you start with 2 ounces of iron then you need a scale accurate to .002 ounces.

Guestimate how many parts per million you need to detect and multiply by your starting weight to get a guestimate of the scale accuracy needed. I think you will find that scales that can measure more than three significant digits are VERY espensive.
-Craig
criak740
Posts: 3
Joined: Tue Sep 04, 2007 6:04 am

HELP!!

Post by criak740 »

I've also heard of a method of measuring the rate using pH, is this true that you can do this?
Cria K
staryl13
Former Expert
Posts: 404
Joined: Tue Sep 18, 2007 3:27 pm
Occupation: Research Assistant
Project Question: Neuroregeneration
Project Due Date: N/A
Project Status: Not applicable

Re: HELP!!

Post by staryl13 »

Hi Cria!
This link explains about the correlation between pH and corrosion rate. http://www.tpub.com/content/doe/h1015v1 ... v1_117.htm
Hope it helps, good luck with your project!
"There is a single light of science, and to brighten it anywhere is to brighten it everywhere." -Isaac Asimov
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